Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Maidin mhaith ar ais duit, a Theachta.

The new jobseeker's pay-related benefit was introduced at the end of March. This new social insurance-based income support has replaced the jobseeker's benefit scheme for those who have become fully unemployed since the commencement of the scheme on 31 March. On 7 June 2025, some 11,900 jobseeker's pay-related benefit claims had been awarded under the new scheme.

The origin of this payment is the experience during the Covid period, when many workers lost their incomes suddenly and without warning. The PUP, which was pay-related, helped to cushion the income shock.

The jobseeker's pay-related benefit extends the same principle to people who lose their income unexpectedly. It links the rate of payment to a person's previous earnings to provide a financial cushion when a person loses their employment entirely. It allows them to adjust to a period of uncertainty associated with unemployment. The scheme aims to support a person during this initial period while they seek alternative employment and adjust their outgoings.

The legislation underpinning the scheme specifically provides that specific categories of atypical workers are excluded from the jobseeker's pay-related benefit. These exclusions apply to those referred to by the Deputy, who often work on a part-time, casual, short-time or seasonal basis. The conditions for the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit scheme are not designed to provide in-work support on a recurring and intermittent basis.

Seasonal workers and those whose employment patterns align with the academic year have a predictable or ongoing pattern of work and can plan accordingly. However, within the Department we seek to be proactive. We have already communicated with more than 8,000 people who we know have the work patterns in question to ensure no delay in going on to benefits as soon as the school year ends. At this point, I do not plan to include them in the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit scheme.

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